Through a visually appealing design, The Human Body in Health and Illness, 3rd Edition describes complex concepts in a more simplified way and applies them to patient care. Aimed at students whose background in science is limited, the text assumes the reader has no previous knowledge in biology, chemistry, or physics and makes the information easy to read and understand. The text includes unique cartoons that use humor to make learning the content more enjoyable. The book also employs a body-systems approach to discuss the basic concepts of anatomy and physiology, building up from simple to complex topics.

Original, full-color cartoons and illustrations complement the text and reinforce the content, making it accessible and user-friendly. The book's logical, step-by-step presentation begins with a basic discussion of the human body and cellular structure and moves toward genetics and the greater complexity of the human organism. Do You Know... boxes briefly cover many interesting issues appropriate to anatomy and physiology, including pathophysiology and historical background information. Disorders of the _____ System tables include specific disorders related to individual body systems. As You Age boxes describe how aging affects human anatomy and physiology. Sum It Up! content provides reinforcement and summary of key topics.

New chapters on the autonomic nervous system, blood vessel anatomy, and blood vessel circulation take a deeper look into the areas of human anatomy and physiology. The companion Panorama of Anatomy and Physiology/Body Spectrum CD-ROM simplifies the process of learning medical terminology with 80 detailed anatomy illustrations to study, plus quizzes, movie clips, fun facts, and information on careers in the field of A&P.